Michel saluted an "incredible" season for Girona, but admitted it will be hard for his side to emulate their exploits next term.

The Blanquivermells have enjoyed a campaign to remember in LaLiga, topping the table on several occasions before eventually finishing third and securing Champions League qualification for the first time.

Michel's side capped the season with the biggest win in the club's history, as Artem Dovbyk scored a hat-trick in a 7-0 rout of already relegated Granada at Estadio Municipal de Montilivi.

Their final total of 81 points makes them one of only four teams to reach that tally in LaLiga's current format, along with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

But Michel already has his sights set on next season, during which he knows Girona will have to work hard to repeat their success - especially with several players expected to leave the club.

"I'm feeling a bit down because good things are over," he told reporters. "We achieved something very important. The day-to-day of the season has been incredible.

"The counter resets to zero. We will start to fight for a great season to come, and that's what we will do from tomorrow onwards.

"The dynamics of football tell you that there won't be the same players or the same season. The problem is that many people will be missed.

"We are growing, and we have to continue taking steps forward. We have to lay the first stone, rest, recover, celebrate this great success and, from next week, start planning to put Girona as high as possible."

Diego Simeone believes Atletico Madrid have fallen short of their objectives this season, but conceded it is difficult to compete with the "best team in the world" in Real Madrid.

Although they are set for a fourth-place finish in LaLiga, Los Rojiblancos are 21 points adrift of Carlo Ancelotti's newly crowned champions. 

Atleti fell to Borussia Dortmund following a 5-4 aggregate defeat in the Champions League quarter-finals, while they were soundly beaten by Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

And as a third successive trophyless season comes to pass at the Metropolitano Stadium, Simeone admits his side could have done better.

"We have the responsibility to get into the Champions League every year. You can be left out, but you can also be champions," he told reporters ahead of Atletico's final LaLiga game of the campaign against Real Sociedad.

"But with Real Madrid, who are the best team in the world and will continue to be because they have rejuvenated the squad, it is not easy.

"We have to keep working at 120 per cent because 100 per cent is not enough, and 80 per cent is even less to be able to get closer to them, keeping in mind that those below us are also improving.

"We were close to the Copa del Rey final and were expecting to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. We created the illusion of being in a possible final, and we weren't able to do it, so now we have to think about what comes next to improve things.

"I have had players who have allowed me to compete as we have done since I arrived, and a coaching staff where everyone who has walked this path has given maximum effort. There is always room for improvement and growth."

Erik ten Hag has claimed Manchester United's new part-owner Jim Ratcliffe has told him he wants the Dutchman to stay at Old Trafford.

Reports on Friday suggested Ratcliffe, who now runs the footballing operations at United following INEOS' 27.7 per cent purchase of the club, had decided to sack Ten Hag regardless of the result of Saturday's FA Cup final, with the Red Devils taking on Manchester City.

United finished eighth, their worst-ever Premier League finish, this season, with Ten Hag under increasing scrutiny.

However, while hitting out at his critics in an interview with Dutch publication Voetbal International, Ten Hag claimed to have the backing of INEOS.

"INEOS told me that they want to change everything and that they want to rebuild with me," he said.

"This is what they told me directly."

Former Ajax boss Ten Hag also defended his tenure at United so far.

"United won the league for the last time in 2013, 11 years ago. But still they expect us to win every game while competing at the top. This club is not ready for that," he said.

"We were supposed to start building something and we made the first steps last year, but then you find out how big this club is and that nobody is ever satisfied.

"Within the club people were satisfied, but outside the club there was noise, [people] saying I won only the EFL Cup, lost the FA Cup final and finished third.

"Well, then you have no sense of reality. Other clubs had a much better squad."

Ten Hag also suggested that some pundits in England see United as "easy pray".

He added: "It's the biggest club in England and possibly in the world. The club is either loved or hated, there is no in-between.

"So when things go bad, they all start talking and talking with very big words. All this negativity from these so-called experts who don't have the capability to analyse something with facts, but who prefer to attack people to make themselves look better.

"And these same people were the ones who gave me a pat on the back last year. Last year I was able to walk on water, this year I am the worst manager in the Premier League?"

Luchi Gonzalez admits his team need to learn the difference between competing and winning as they aim to bounce back against Austin FC on Saturday.

The Earthquakes currently sit bottom of the Western Conference with 10 points, having won just three games this season.

Gonzalez highlighted his team has no trouble competing with their opponents and is optimistic they can turn leads into actual wins soon.

"The result of the last game [against Austin], we didn't get the job done there at the end even though we thought we were about to, but we're competing consistently in any competition," he said.

"We've had the lead in eight out of [14 MLS games]. That does show you that we're ready, we're prepared and we compete. Competing and winning are two different things. We've got to keep working on our ability to make decisions individually, collectively."

At the other end of the table, Austin sit in third with 22 points, just six behind leaders Real Salt Lake after back-to-back wins over Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City.

Head coach Josh Wolff was pleased with his side’s approach in recent weeks but urged them to keep up that level as they head into a busy week.

"We're very spirited, we're very organised and opportunistic," Wolff said.

"We've shown we can score goals, that's not a problem. We have to keep approaching games in a meticulous way, a responsible and disciplined way so that we can win."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

San Jose Earthquakes – Jeremy Ebobisse

Ebobisse has scored five goals in seven career matches against Austin FC. Only Jesus Ferreira (6) has scored more MLS goals against the Verde.

Austin – Sebastian Driussi

Driussi has scored seven goals in seven career games against the Earthquakes. No player has scored more goals against a single opponent than Driussi against San Jose since he joined MLS in 2021.

MATCH PREDICTION: SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES WIN

Austin recorded their first-ever win over San Jose on April 6 with a 4-3 home victory (D5 L2). There have been at least four goals scored in five of the eight matches between the sides, including a pair of seven-goal games.

San Jose has lost four of their first six home league matches this season (W2) after losing just twice at PayPal Park during the 2023 regular season. The ‘Quakes have conceded at least once in 11 straight regular-season home matches dating back to last year.

Meanwhile, Austin have won six of its last nine regular-season matches (D1 L2), including the last two in a row. Only three teams have collected more points than Austin’s 19 since that run began in late March.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

San Jose Earthquakes – 41.2%

Draw – 28.6%

Austin – 30.2%

Andre Onana says he decided to "stand up and fight" after a tough start to life at Manchester United.

The Red Devils are preparing to face Manchester City in the FA Cup final for a second consecutive season on Saturday after a poor campaign saw them finish in their lowest-ever league position in the Premier League.

Certain players were singled out throughout the season due to their performances, with Onana coming under fire for a string of errors early on after taking over from David de Gea when he joined from Inter last July.

However, the goalkeeper was adamant he did not let the criticism get to him.

"I arrived as the best goalkeeper in the world and 'boom' it went down. It was like 'What happened?'," he said.

"But that is how difficult football is sometimes. It depends if you want to stay down there or stand up and fight. I know what I did to arrive here. I know who I am. I decided to stand up and fight."

Onana compared his experience to that of teammate Marcus Rashford, who was left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024 after scoring just eight goals this season.

"We are talking about the same player [Rashford]. So now he's a bad player? No. You can have a bad season or a bad start, but the most important thing is how you end," he added.

"Rashy, for me, is one of the best players in the world. But he is facing difficulty. It's not only him and me, but the whole club.

"But he will come back. I know my killer will score some important goals for us. Hopefully, against City, he will score two, and we win the FA Cup."

There is also a lot of speculation around the club concerning the future of Erik ten Hag, with reports suggesting he could be relieved of his position no matter the result in Saturday’s final.

Onana, however, has thrown his support behind his manager, who he also worked with at Ajax for five years.

The Cameroon international said: "I'm not here to back him because he's big enough to back himself, but he's a really good guy, a positive coach and, tactically, he is good.

"If he had all his squad together, it would probably be different for him, for us, the club and the fans."

Artem Dovbyk netted a hat-trick as surprise package Girona claimed the biggest win in the club's history with a 7-0 thrashing of already-relegated Granada on Friday. 

Defender Eric Garcia opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, pouncing on the visitors' sloppy defending to head home from close range before Viktor Tsygankov doubled the advantage with a tap-in three minutes later.

Dovbyk made it 3-0 from the penalty spot in the 44th minute after a foul on Portu, while Tsygankov scored his second with a simple finish nine minutes into the second half.

Granada were dealt a further blow when they were reduced to 10 men in the 61st minute thanks to Facundo Pellistri's second yellow card before Dovbyk scored again in the 75th. Minutes later, substitute Cristhian Stuani got on the scoresheet with a close-range strike.

The Ukrainian then completed his hat-trick with a 90th-minute penalty to reach 24 league goals this season, ahead of Villarreal's Alexander Sorloth in the battle for the league's top goalscorer.

Data Debrief: Girona go out on a high

Dovbyk scored 24 goals in LaLiga this season, becoming Girona's top scorer in a single season in the competition, surpassing Cristhian Stuani's 21 goals in 2017-18.

Savinho was also a bright spark for the hosts in this game, winning the final penalty to set up Dovbyk's penalty. His assist for Tsyhankov's goal was his 10th of the season - the most registered for Girona this campaign. 

Phil Neville has called for Portland Timbers to be more "ruthless" as they aim to get back to winning ways against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.

The Timbers sit 11th in the Western Conference having won just one of their last 11 matches, though their 4-2 comeback win against 10-man San Jose Earthquakes did come in their last home outing.

Despite their poor run of form, Neville is pleased with what he has seen from his side in recent weeks.

"We do feel as if we're heading in the right direction. There are signs," he said.

"Now it's about us picking up points and making sure we stay in the pack and be more ruthless with what we're doing. It's time that we've got to go out there and deliver."

Kansas City are three points behind Saturday’s opponents in 13th, having failed to win any of their last seven matches.

After a U.S. Open Cup win over FC Tulsa on Wednesday though, midfielder Erik Thommy believes Kansas City can start to build some momentum.

"It's the perfect time for us to turn the season around. We've got to start to collect the points as soon as possible," Thommy said.

"We need the right players on the pitch and look forward while looking at what made us strong in the past. We need to believe in ourselves and trust in yourself and the club. We have to take all of these positive things [from recent matches] into the next game."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portland – Maxime Crepeau

Portland’s 2-1 defeat to Minnesota marked the 10th straight regular-season match in which they have conceded multiple goals, the longest streak in MLS history. The Timbers have not kept a clean sheet in their last 20 regular-season games dating back to last September, and Crepeau will be hoping to change that.

Kansas City – Johnny Russell

Russell scored his 57th regular-season goal for Kansas City on Saturday, equaling Dom Dwyer for second in the club’s history. Only Preki (71) has scored more goals for Kansas City in regular-season MLS play.

MATCH PREDICTION: PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN

The Timbers have won four straight home matches against Kansas City dating back to 2019. Prior to 2019, Portland had managed just two wins in 10 all-time meetings with SKC at Providence Park (D4 L4).

However, the Timbers have won only one of their last 11 matches (D3 L7) following a 2-1 loss at Minnesota on Saturday. Only CF Montreal (five) have collected fewer points than Portland (six) since this run began in mid-March.

Kansas City are winless in seven straight MLS matches including losing the last four in a row. It has been 13 years since Sporting lost five straight MLS matches, last doing so in April-May 2011.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Portland – 40.3%

Draw – 24.8%

Kansas City – 34.9%

The stage is set in Bilbao for a battle of two European Giants.

Barcelona are striving to make history and win the quadruple, a feat only achieved by Arsenal in 2007 when they won a domestic treble and the UEFA Women’s Cup; this would match Arsenal's achievements, and Barca would be the first team to win such a treble since the rebranding to the Women's Champions League.

Lyon, however, cannot be ruled out. They are 11-time finalists and eight-time champions, making them the most successful team of all time in the competition.

They are serial winners and seem to be able to find a way even when they are not deemed to be the favourites.

This will be the third time Barcelona and Lyon have faced each other in the final of the Champions League; the second-most meetings in the final of the competition, after Lyon v Wolfsburg (four).

The French side won the previous two by an aggregate score of 7-2 (4-1 in 2019 and 3-1 in 2022). Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor, who is seemingly set to join Chelsea, will be looking to replicate the 2022 final in Turin, a 3-1 victory which meant she became the first woman to win the competition as a player and head coach. 

Victory on Saturday would be the parting gift to her beloved Lyon as she aims to cement their European dynasty.  

Barcelona’s march to the top

Barca will play in a fourth consecutive final in the Champions League, and their fifth within the last six seasons.

The Azulgranas have appeared in five finals in the competition, with only Lyonnais (11), Eintracht Frankfurt (six) and Wolfsburg (six) featuring in more.

Only Lyon (five between 2016 and 2020) have had a longer run of appearing in consecutive Champions League finals than Barcelona’s current run (this year being their fourth).

Barcelona have shone once again in the tournament and Jonatan Giraldez is confident of his side's potential to make history. 

He told reporters: "We cannot wait for the final. We've had a fantastic season, playing great football, and the recent weeks have seen us on a great dynamic, with almost everyone available.

"We already have three trophies won, so to have the chance to add another Champions League in this fantastic stadium means we can try to show we are still the best team in Europe."

World Cup winner Salma Paralluelo is the second-highest scorer in the competition, with six goals. She has outperformed her xG of 4.6.

Paralluelo has had the most shots of any player in the competition (35), joint-top with team-mate Caroline Graham Hansen, who has netted five times in the competition.

The Norwegian has been in excellent form this year and really made her team tick. Hansen has the highest expected assists (xA) total in the competition, at 4.5. She has provided five assists, level with club-mate and Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati.  

Tussle of the titans

Lyon have been clinical in this year’s tournament, leading the scoring charts. They have netted 36 times in 10 games, an average of 3.6 goals per game, from an xG of 34.

They also lead the way in total attempts with 252, ahead of Barcelona, who recorded 226.  

Barca are the second-highest scorers, with their tally of 34 goals being 14 clear of next-best Chelsea (20). They have registered 27.6 xG.

The Catalan giants have also been more accurate this season and boast the better shot conversion rate – 15.25 to Lyon’s 14.06. 

This match-up will feature four of the five most creative players in the tournament. Lyon’s Selma Bacha leads the way with 32 chances created. Barca trio Graham Hansen, Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey have created 29, 24 and 20 opportunities respectively.

Favourably, the sides were on opposite sides of the draw in this year’s competition and seemed destined to meet in another battle of the titans.

Barca have conceded just eight goals, the joint-best figure in the competition along with Chelsea, but their expected goals against (xGA) of 5.4 suggests they have been unfortunate to concede so many.

Lyon have conceded 10 times, from 7.24 xGA. These numbers are that of champions and emphasise the quality that will be on display in Bilbao.  

The best there has ever been

Lyon have only failed to win two of their previous 10 Champions League finals – on penalties against Turbine Postdam in 2010 and 0-1 against Wolfsburg in 2013. Barcelona, meanwhile, have lost two of their previous four, with both defeats coming against OL in 2019 and 2022.

Lyon’s Kadidiatou Diani is the leading scorer in the Champions League this season, with eight goals in 10 appearances.  

Those strikes have come from 4.5 xG, displaying Diani’s clinical nature in front of goal – she has essentially netted double the amount of goals she would have been anticipated to based on the quality of chances to fall her way.  

Lyon star Ada Hegerberg has just returned from injury and will bolster the confidence of the French side. The former Ballon d'Or winner has scored five goals from 33 shots. 

Hegerberg could become the first player to score in five Champions League finals, having netted in four already for Lyon. She currently shares the record for most finals scored in along with Alexandra Popp.

One player that will be crucial for Lyon is captain Wendie Renard. She has been involved in 10 of Lyon’s previous final appearances in the competition, winning eight times. 

Three current Lyon players have previously found the net for the club against Barca in the Champions League. Hegerberg has done so five times, Marozsan twice, and Eugenie Le Sommer once. Patri Guijarro and Alexia Putellas have scored for Barca against Lyon.

Bompastor understands the history of this tie and told reporters: "This Barca is different from the one we faced in the final two years ago. They have made new signings and each final brings with it a different story. It will be a totally different game tomorrow.

"We are a team that has won a lot in the past. But we remain really ambitious. For me, we are the best team in the world and will continue to be no matter what happens tomorrow. I trust my players; I know there is all the individual and collective talent needed to achieve this goal."

The Opta supercomputer rates Barcelona as huge favourites going into the tie, giving them a 67.8 per cent chance of winning in the pre-match simulations.

However, it may be much closer than that in reality. Only time will tell which records will be set on Saturday under the lights in Bilbao. 

Bayer Leverkusen have quickly put Wednesday's Europa League final defeat to Atalanta behind them, says coach Xabi Alonso.

The freshly-crowned Bundesliga champions can clinch a first-ever domestic double with victory over second-division Kaiserslautern in Saturday's final.

Leverkusen had the opportunity to complete an unbeaten treble but saw their 51-match unbeaten run in all competitions ended in the Europa League final on Wednesday when they lost 3-0 to Atalanta.

Now, they have the opportunity to cap an already memorable season by winning the DFB-Pokal.

"It was a long way to get here, since August last year," said Alonso of Saturday's showcase at Berlin's Olympic stadium.

"We are here. It is great to have the last game of the season as a final. After Wednesday, we are ready and focused for tomorrow. We have to have the hunger and I think after Wednesday we have it more."

Prior to this season's Bundesliga title, Leverkusen's last trophy was the 1993 DFB-Pokal.

Alonso said the team had little time to review their first defeat of the season, but they had already put the loss behind them, having a shot at the double.

"The time for analysis is short because our focus is now on tomorrow. What happened on Wednesday hopefully will not have much influence," Alonso added.

"We have to continue after the defeat. The goal is big. Tomorrow we can cap it with the Cup. Dublin is gone and behind us, and now we think about Berlin."

Pep Guardiola said "in our job, you have to win" when he was asked about Xavi's dismissal by Barcelona.

Barca confirmed on Friday that Xavi had been dismissed, and would not take charge of the club next season.

Xavi's final game in charge of the Blaugrana is set to come on Sunday, when Barca face Sevilla.

Barca's decision comes just 30 days after Xavi announced he had decided to stay on, having initially expressed his intention to leave back in January.

Xavi was a key player for Guardiola during his successful stint as Barcelona coach, and the Manchester City boss was asked about his old club's decision.

"What can I say? It's always not good news because something didn't work, one club sacking the manager. [The] reasons [for] what happened, I don't know," Guardiola said ahead of the FA Cup final against Manchester United.

"We spoke today at breakfast [about manager sackings]. Normally [managers] move a lot.

"In our job, you have to win otherwise you're in a dangerous position. No matter [if you're] new or old, you have to win, do a good job and be good with many things, otherwise it happens."

Sevilla coach Quique Sanchez Flores, who will leave his post after Sunday's meeting with Barca, was rather more scathing of the Blaugrana, however.

"I shouldn't say this, but how badly Barcelona treats its legends. What a bad streak," Flores said.

"With [Ronald] Koeman, with [Lionel] Messi, with Xavi now, how bad. I wish clubs treated their legends well. That would be fantastic.

"That is a legacy of connection from the managers to the fans. This connects a lot, treating legends well.

"Xavi is a legend of the club. He won the league last season and football has a short memory. He was questioned this year from the first minute. I have doubts that the criticism about him is correct.

"Xavi has experienced many things as a player and has done a good job as a coach. I'll give him a huge hug, we'll talk."

Barcelona are expected to appoint former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick as Xavi's successor.

Omari Hutchinson, an ex-Arsenal trainee who spent a stellar season-long loan with English Championship runners up Ipswich Town, appears to be on the move to the Netherlands.

The London-born Jamaican international is a wanted man by fallen Dutch giants Ajax and last term’s Eredivisie runners up Feyenoord, having impressed as a whizzy winger last season.

He plies his trade with big-spending English Premier League (EPL) outfit Chelsea. He was sent out to newly-promoted Ipswich as he was deemed to be surplus to requirements at the start of the campaign.

Hutchinson’s boss at Ipswich was Kieran McKenna, who is apparently on the shortlist of five head coaches to replace recently departed head coach Mauricio Pochettino. If McKenna becomes their in-coming coach, he may well insist on keeping Hutchinson at Chelsea.

McKenna and Hutchinson worked well together at Ipswich. The club were on fire with free-flowing football during their impressive campaign, which saw Hutchinson net ten goals.

Although Hutchinson returned to Chelsea, and immediately jetted off on vacation, he now finds the West London club managerless. In the background Dutch clubs clamour to take him on loan, with an option to buy at around €18 million (US$19m).

Hutchinson is one of two talented and young attacking Jamaican players with Chelsea, both tagged as a “wonderkid”. Dujuan “Whisper” Richards, 18, has yet to make his EPL debut but had been training this year with the first-team squad after impressing Pochettino.

Jamaica face 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against minnows Dominican Republic and Dominica next month, before tackling the 16-team CONMEBOL Copa America with group games against Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela.

Both Hutchinson and Richards are expected to be called up by head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson for the tournament extravaganza, which will be played in the United States (20 June-14 July).

Hutchinson has only made two appearances for the Reggae Boyz because Chelsea have never been keen for him to go on international duty.

He made his debut for Jamaica in their 6-0 humiliating defeat to Catalonia in an unofficial friendly in May 2022, and started in the 1-0 reversal to Trinidad & Tobago in March 2023. Former Phoenix All Stars Football Academy ace Richards is more of a veteran, with ten international appearances but just one goal for Jamaica.

For 20-year-old Hutchinson, voted Ipswich’s Young Player of the Season, the future looks promising to showcase his silky skills. He could be given the chance to shine on the Copa America stage, and then light up the top-flight in either the Netherlands or in England.

Until a new manager arrives at Chelsea everything is likely to remain up in the air about Hutchinson’s footballing future. Whoever Chelsea pick as their next head coach could scupper Hutchinson’s plans to leave the club, by giving the Jamaican a shot at grabbing glory in the EPL.

Eric Ramsay urges Minnesota United not to get ahead of themselves despite a high-flying start to the season as they prepare to travel to Colorado Rapids.

Minnesota have lost just two games in the MLS this season and are currently second in the Western Conference after a run of five without defeat.

However, Ramsay is keen to make sure his side do not get complacent despite their good run of form.

"I'm trying not to read too much into the table because it changes so quickly," he said. 

"You can feel as we are at the moment that you're on a really good run, but when you look at the table, and you find you haven't really got much separation, although you feel like you've had five games when you've had to grind out good performances and results.

"I've used the phrase with the players a few times that we're starting from zero every game. Our form that we go into games with is meaningless."

Colorado are just three points behind Minnesota in the table, sitting in sixth, having alternated between a win and a loss in their last six matches.

Head coach Chris Armas remains optimistic after their defeat to FC Cincinnati last weekend, saying: "We're on our way to becoming a really good team," he said.

"The results show that, the performances show that, the mentality of the team shows that. We've beaten some pretty good teams this year.

"We gave everything we had [in the defeat to FC Cincinnati] and fell a little short, but it makes us no less competitors or winners. We think we're better for [the loss]."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado Rapids – Rafael Navarro

Navarro is the first Rapids player since Kei Kamara in 2019-20 to score in four consecutive regular-season matches. Only three players in the team’s history, most recently Omar Cummings in 2010, have scored in five straight league matches.

Minnesota United – Joseph Rosales

Rosales has recorded an assist in five consecutive regular-season matches for Minnesota United, the first player to do so in the team’s history. Rosales has totaled seven assists in those five games after recording just two assists in his first 53 MLS matches.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

The Rapids suffered a 5-3 loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday, the club’s fifth defeat of the season. Colorado have bounced back following their first four losses of the season, winning the next match three times, and drawing once.

Minnesota earned a 2-1 win against the Rapids in their last visit to Colorado in March 2023 – it was their first road win against the Rapids in club history (D1 L5 prior).

Indeed, Minnesota have 24 points from their first 12 games this season (W7 D3 L2), six more than they have ever had at this stage of a season before. The Loons have won four of their last five matches (D1).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Colorado Rapids – 36.1%

Draw – 25.8%

Minnesota United – 38.1%

Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas has announced he is retiring from international football at the age of 37.

Navas, who announced earlier this month that he would be leaving Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires in June, has now ended speculation about his participation in the Copa America.

The goalkeeper has made 114 appearances for his national side since his debut in 2008, playing in three World Cups, including Costa Rica’s run to the quarter-final in Brazil in 2014.

Navas’ last appearance for Costa Rica came against Argentina in a friendly in March.

In a video posted to social media, Navas said: "This chapter of my life is coming to an end. I leave with my heart full of gratitude and my eyes looking forward, always carrying the name of our beloved Costa Rica.

"It's a bittersweet feeling, difficult to accept, this stage has come to an end. It's not goodbye, it's see you later because I know our paths will continue to cross. Thank you, Costa Rica, see you later, pura vida."

Costa Rica’s Copa America campaign will kick off against Brazil on June 24 in Los Angeles.

Bradley Carnell has challenged St. Louis City to make Citypark a formidable place to play as they prepare to welcome the Seattle Sounders on Saturday.

St. Louis have lost just one of their six MLS home games this season, helping them to ninth in the Western Conference.

Carnell’s side have, however, lost their last two matches, including their most recent home outing, but the head coach is not worried about their recent form.

He said: "The standings are not an indicator of if we give everything or not. Everything should be on the line every single day.

"For sure, there are moments of ebbs and flows through a season, and you get to mitigate through those just like every other team in the league. We're just focusing on our next game against a respectable opponent.

"We want to see if we can keep up and keep on pushing and turn Citypark into the fortress we know it can become to get three points."

Seattle sit two points below St. Louis in 10th after failing to win their previous two matches.

Head coach Brian Schmetzer wants his side to use last season’s win over St. Louis as inspiration to get back to winning ways.

"It's a tough place to play, they were on a good roll last year," he said.

"This year their results aren't quite as good, but they're still a good team. Last year's performance there away from home was good, it was solid. We scored early goals and held on. Good defence. Solid performance."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

St. Louis City – Joao Klauss

Klauss has scored in four of St. Louis’ last nine matches in the MLS, netting the opener on two occasions. He is also the club’s top scorer this season with five goals.

Seattle Sounders – Cristian Roldan

Roldan completed 82 of 88 passes in Seattle’s draw with Vancouver on Saturday, both the most in a match by a Sounders player this season. It was the most passes Roldan has completed in an MLS match since connecting on 109 passes against the Galaxy in August 2019.

MATCH PREDICTION: ST. LOUIS CITY WIN

After losing only one of their first 11 regular-season matches in 2024 (W3 D7), St. Louis have lost consecutive games. This is the fifth time they have lost two straight regular-season matches, though they have never lost three in a row in league play before.

Seattle have won both of their matches against St. Louis, outscoring them, 5-0, in those two games. The Sounders were the only team to keep clean sheets in two matches against St. Louis last season.

Seattle drew 1-1 with Vancouver last Saturday, thanks to a Ryan Gauld equalizing penalty for the Whitecaps at 93:59. It was the latest result-changing goal the Sounders have ever conceded in a regular-season MLS match.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

St. Louis City – 44.8%

Draw – 27%

Seattle Sounders – 28.2%

The Premier League season is over, Euro 2024 is approaching, and now it is time for the FA Cup final to round off the English domestic season.

Manchester City and Manchester United, as they did last season, will face off at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

City won 2-1 in June 2023, with Ilkay Gundogan's stunning volley after just 12 seconds setting the tone for a dominant performance from Pep Guardiola's side, who were en route to winning a treble.

There's no treble on the cards for City this season, though after clinching an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League title, another double is in their reach.

"We play FA Cup [and] we can do back-to-back doubles, we have [a] chance to do this," Guardiola said on Friday. "The FA Cup for itself is FA Cup, Wembley, all our fans going to London. It's the last game of season, last effort. 

"I'm impressed how well we have trained after a few days off, so focused, everyone wants to be involved, we will do our best for sure."  

United boss Erik ten Hag, meanwhile, looks set to take charge of his final game at the club, with the Red Devils reportedly having made the decision to sack him regardless of Saturday's result.

Using Opta data, here's all you need to know...

What's expected?

Unsurprisingly, Opta's model makes Man City the favourites, with a 68 per cent win likelihood. United's chances are rated at just 14.4 per cent, with a 17.7 per cent chance it finishes level after 120 minutes, meaning penalties would be needed.

City are unbeaten in their last 35 matches in all competitions (W29 D6) – it’s the second-longest run by a top-flight club in English football history, after Nottingham Forest’s run of 40 in 1978.

There has been a gulf between the rivals this season. City won both of their league meetings against United by an aggregate of 6-1. The last time they beat their neighbours three times in the same campaign was in 1969-70.

City fare well in some significant data points. They have the biggest positive difference (+83) between total shots (127) and shots faced (44) in the Premier League this season, and the biggest positive difference (+9.6) between their expected goals (xG) of 14.8 and expected goals against (xGA) of 5.2.

With City topping the Premier League and United way down in eighth, 31 points separated the rivals.

City scored the most goals in the Premier League, with 96, 29 more than United (57), whose xG was also 57.

United's defensive issues have been well-documented. Their xGA stood at a whopping 70 across their 38 league matches, with only the three relegated sides and West Ham having a worse figure, while only Sheffield United (678) allowed more shots than the Red Devils (667).

Ten Hag on the brink

United are looking to win the FA Cup for the 13th time, something only Arsenal (14) have ever done more. However, the Red Devils have failed to win the trophy in four of their last five final appearances, with the exception coming in 2016 against Crystal Palace under Louis van Gaal (2-1).

There have been six previous occasions of a side finishing 8th or lower facing that season’s champions in the showpiece – Aston Villa (10th) beat Manchester United 2-1 in 1957, but since then such sides have lost all five finals by an aggregate score of 15-0.

United have won five of their last seven FA Cup games against City. However, both defeats in that run have come in games at Wembley (2011 semi-final, 2023 final).

The Red Devils have lost six of their last seven meetings with City in all competitions (W1), including each of the last three in a row. They last lost four consecutively against them between 2013 and 2014.

United have lost 19 games and conceded 84 goals in all competitions this season. They last lost 20 in a campaign in 1973-74 (22) and last conceded more than 84 in 1963-64 (89).

This is only the second time in FA Cup history the same fixture has been played in the final in consecutive years, after Blackburn Rovers v Queen's Park Rangers in 1884 and 1885, and the sensible money would be on City repeating their victory from last year.

Serial winners

Much has been said of City's dominance in the Premier League, but Guardiola's team just have to be lauded for their incredible hunger to keep winning.

City could complete the league title and FA Cup double for the third time, something only previously achieved by Manchester United (1993-94, 1995-96 and 1998-99) and Arsenal (1970-71, 1997-98 and 2001-02). The Citizens did so in 2018-19 and 2022-23 and thus could become the first team to do so in consecutive campaigns.

They are aiming to win the FA Cup for the eighth time and for the first time ever in consecutive years.

Guardiola's side have won each of their last 11 matches in the FA Cup; excluding byes and void games, there have only been two longer winning runs in the competition’s history – Blackburn Rovers (20 between 1883 and 1886) and Chelsea (13 between 2009 and 2011).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Man City: Erling Haaland

Phil Foden is the Premier League Player of the Year, while he has been involved in 10 goals in his last nine appearances in all competitions, scoring nine and assisting one. He has also netted six goals in his last five games against United, while only against Brighton (eight) has he scored more career goals than his six against the Red Devils.

Yet it is Haaland who United's ramshackle defence will be most fearful of.

Haaland is the top-scoring Premier League player in all competitions this season with 38 goals. He netted 52 times last season and could become the first Premier League player to score 40+ in consecutive campaigns.

He has also been involved in nine goals in five appearances against United in all competitions (six goals, three assists), more than he has against any other side as a City player.

Man Utd: Bruno Fernandes 

Fernandes scored from the penalty spot for United in last season's FA Cup final.

He could become the fifth United player to score in the showpiece in two different years, after Bryan Robson (1983 and 1990), Norman Whiteside (1983 and 1985), Mark Hughes (1990 and 1994) and Eric Cantona (1994 and 1996).

Marcus Rashford, having been left out of the England squad for Euro 2024, will be looking to offer a reminder of his qualities, too.